Day 21: The Pyrenees to La Rochelle

I awoke to 2°C, a far cry from just 2 days before in the Tabernas semi-desert of 45°C!

I drove back along the winding mountain road from Torla and became stuck behind a lorry. I was reluctant to overtake because every bend was blind and there was no margin for error. In any case the road was barely wide enough for the lorry. About 6 cars doing what must have been around 70 mph overtook me AND the lorry! I suppose they knew the roads well.

I stopped at Valle de Tena and took the road off towards Hoz la Jaca to snap a photo or two. Mount Penas de Fenas created the backdrop for the lake.

 

A little further on was the ski resort of El Formigal, the locked up buildings and lifts looking totally out of place.

 

Continuing to the top of the Pyrenees I crossed into France. I stopped off on the D934, just past Bielle, at the 'Laloubere', the smallest cafe/ patisserie I've ever seen with just one table! Bread and croissants were freshly baked on the tiny premises, and freshly ground coffee was made and served at the table. The aromas were tantalising! Where else would you find such a small, perfectly formed business run by a very charming and very attractive French lady all by herself?!

The rest of this run was mainly motorway and rain. It poured for the whole journey!

I eventually arrived a little short of La Rochelle at Le Chapus near Marennes, an area farming oysters and mussels. I pitched the (large) tent for a bit of comfort, as it was bucketing down with rain still.

 

I went to one of the shacks for mussels and oysters, came back and enjoyed a superb feast!

 

I realised as I tucked in to one of my favourite dishes under the protective canopy, water cascading over the edges, that it hadn't rained since the day I left England. Not a drop in 21 days!

351 miles today.